MANILA, May 27 (Mabuhay) – President Benigno Aquino III is standing by his two Cabinet secretaries who were named in the extended affidavit of alleged pork barrel scam mastermind Janet Lim-Napoles.

Interviewed in Palawan on Tuesday, Aquino said the inclusion of Agriculture Secretary Proceso Alcala and Budget Secretary Butch Abad on Napoles’ list of alleged pork barrel scam beneficiaries could be a handiwork of personalities who are “actively trying to muddle the issue.”

“I don’t have evidence right now but I know of personalities who are actively trying to muddle the issue,” he said.

In her affidavit, which was submitted to Justice Secretary Leila de Lima on Monday, Napoles said she handed P2 million to Abad during a meeting where he supposedly explained what a special allotment release order (SARO) is. The SARO is a document that authorizes the release of pork barrel funds.

Abad has repeatedly denied transacting with Napoles regarding his pork barrel allocation when he was still Batanes congressman.